Lord’s Day 25, 2008

I reioyced, when they sayd to me, We wil go into the house of the Lord. (Psalme 122:1)

HYMN IX. JACOB’S Ladder Gen. xxviii. 12. John Newton (1725–1806)

If the Lord our leader be, We may follow without fear; East or West, by land or sea, Home, with him, is ev’ry where; When from Esau Jacob fled, Tho’ his pillow was a stone, And the ground his humble bed, Yet he was not left alone.

Kings are often waking kept, Rack’d with cares on beds of state; Never king like Jacob slept. For he lay at heaven’s gate: Lo! he saw a ladder rear’d, Reaching to the heav’nly throne; At the top the Lord appear’d, Spake and claimed him for his own.

Well does Jacob’s ladder suit To the gospel throne of grace; We are at the ladder’s foot, Ev’ry hour, in ev’ry place By affirming flesh and blood, Jesus heav’n and earth unites; We by faith ascend to God, God to dwell with us delights.

They who know the Savior’s name, Are for all events prepar’d What can changes do to them, Who have such a Guide and Guard? Should they traverse earth around, To the ladder still they come; Ev’ry spot is holy ground, God is there—and he’s their home.

—Olney Hymns. Book I: On select Passages of Scripture.

Psalme 88 (Geneva Bible) A song or Psalme of Heman the Ezrahite to give instruction, committed to the sonnes of Korah for him that excelleth upon Malath Leannoth.1 O Lord God of my saluation, I cry day and night before thee. 2 Let my prayer enter into thy presence: incline thine eare vnto my cry. 3 For my soule is filled with euils, and my life draweth neere to the graue. 4 I am counted among them that go downe vnto the pit, and am as a man without strength: 5 Free among the dead, like the slaine lying in the graue, whome thou remembrest no more, and they are cut off from thine hand. 6 Thou hast layde me in the lowest pit, in darkenes, and in the deepe. 7 Thine indignation lyeth vpon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy waues. Selah. 8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance farre from me, and made mee to be abhorred of them: I am shut vp, and cannot get foorth. 9 Mine eye is sorowfull through mine affliction: Lord, I call dayly vpon thee: I stretch out mine hands vnto thee. 10 Wilt thou shewe a miracle to the dead? or shall the dead rise and prayse thee? Selah. 11 Shall thy louing kindenes be declared in the graue? or thy faithfulnes in destruction? 12 Shall thy wonderous workes be knowen in the darke? and thy righteousnes in the land of obliuion? 13 But vnto thee haue I cryed, O Lord, and early shall my prayer come before thee. 14 Lord, why doest thou reiect my soule, and hidest thy face from me? 15 I am afflicted and at the point of death: from my youth I suffer thy terrours, doubting of my life. 16 Thine indignations goe ouer me, and thy feare hath cut me off. 17 They came round about me dayly like water, and compassed me together. 18 My louers and friends hast thou put away from me, and mine acquaintance hid themselues.

Grace be with you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.